Equipment for soldering heat exchanger nests, more particularly for cooling radiators and radiators obtained



May 9, 1967 A. E. PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PRTICULARLY-FORCOOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet l Fiel.

May 9, 1967 A. E; PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FORCOOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1965 9sheets-Sheet 2 EQ. uri-Ela @i ul1 g 3 7/7 /4 f ,I 11;' L r-l T Ed E g 1La@ @i l w |4 f 1f N 5 E Il V 7521 s A 75a? 74 735 u i 7551 Ii g May 9,1967 A. E. PLEGAT' 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, lMORE PARTICULARLY FORCOOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED 9 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Aug. 13,1963 12 Xsr May 9, 1967 Filed Aug. 13, 1965 A. E. PLEGAT EQUIPMENT FORSOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORSAND RADIATORS OBTAINED 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 9, 1967 Filed Aug. 13, 1965A. E. PLEGAT EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MOREPARTICULARLY FOR COOLING HADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Fi e6.

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 9, 1967 Filed Aug. 15, 1963 A.E.PLEGAT EQUIPMENTFOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULAHLY FOR COOLINGRADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED 9 Sheets-Sheet G May 9, 1967 A. E.PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS MORE PARTICULARLY FORCOOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1963 9Sheets-Sheet 7 May 9, 1967 v A. E. PL AT 3,318,503 EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERHEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS ANDRAD-IATORS OBTAINED 9 Sheets-Shee'c l8 Filed Aug. l5, 1963 May 9, 1967A. E. PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SO RING HEAT EXCHAN N S, MORE PAR ULARLY FOR COOLI DIATORSAND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 F1612. m15.Flr-:.14 H615. frime. lli-@.12 mi. /37 (la /MW/ E United States Patent 3318 503 EQUIPMENT FOR SOLERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLYFOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Alain Edouard Plegat,Asnieres, France, assignor to Societe Anonyme des Usines Chausson,Asnieres,

France, a company of France Filed Aug. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 301,791 Claimspriority, application France, Aug. 21, 1962, 907,391, Patent 1,345,595 7Claims. (Cl. 228-18) The nests of heat exchangers, more particularly ofcooling radiators are at present assembled and soldered in severalsuccessive operations carried out by various machines. The method ofmanufacturing consequently calls for numerous handlings which increasesthe cost price of the nests made and diminishesA the possibilities ofproduction of equipments.

The present invention seeks to obviate these disadvantages by creating anew equipment especially enabling the simultaneous effecting of thesoldering of the various elements forming the nests.

The equipment according to the invention also has the advantage offbeing devised so that it enables soldering operations on nests ofvarious types without necessitating supplementary handlings.

According to the invention, the equipment comprises a conveyordetermining a line and progress direction for mobile cells that itsupports and guides from a loading point, where they receive theconstitutive elements assembled of heat exchanger nests, then towards aturning device provided for directing them before passing to theinterior of a picking point, by immersion in va ux bath, these cellsbeing then directed towards aV drainage area after which a secondturning device again directs them so that they are brought facing ablower point placed at the entrance of a rst soldering oven on leavingwhich the cells are again engaged in a third turning device provided toturn then for 180 on themselves so as to enable them to enter a secondsoldering oven after which said cells are directed towards a dischargingpoint.

Various other characteristics of the invention will moreover be revealedby the detailed description which follows.

A form of embodiment of the object of the invention is shown, by way ofnon-restrictive example, in the attached drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a synoptical view of the equipment according to theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of one 'of thecomponents of the equipment.

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially along the line III-III of FIG.2.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken substantially along the line IV-IV of FIG.2.

FIGURE 5 is a section, on a larger scale, taken substantially along theline V-V of FIG. 1, showing a constitutive component of the equipment,

FIGURE 6 is a section taken substantially along the line VI-VI of FIG,1, showing another component of the equipment.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken substantially along the line VII-VII of FIG.1, showing another element of the equipment.

FIGURE 8 is a section on a larger scale, taken substantially along theline VIII-VIII of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 9 is a partial longitudinal section, on a larger scale, takenalong the line IX-IX of FIG. l.

FIGURE 1() is a cross section, in a larger scale, taken substantiallyalong the line X-X of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross section, on a larger scale, takensubstantially along the line XI-XI of FIG. 9.

3,318,503 Patented May 9, 1967 FIGURES 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 arediagrammatical section, on a smaller scale, taken along the linesXII-XII, XIII-XIII, XIV-XIV, XV-XV, XV I-XV I and XVII- XVII of FIG. 9.

FIGURES 18, 19 and 20 are diagrammatical views showing the particularposition of certain components of the equipment.

The equipment comprises a conveyor 1 determining a line or direction foradvancing mobile cells 2 intended to contain in each one a radiator coreto be soldered. The conveyor 1 conveys the cells towards a loading point3 then towards a turning point A provided for guiding them before theypass inside a pickling point 4. These cells are then directed towards adraining area 5 after which a second turning device B directs themafresh before they are brought facing a blowing point 6 placed at theentrance to a first soldering oven 7. A third turning point C placesthem, after this oven, in a definite position for their entry into asecond soldering oven 7 on leaving which the cells are directed towardsa discharging point 8. Transfer components 9 are provided at eachturning point A, B and C for ensuring the movement of the cells, Thesetransfer components are described in detail hereinafter.

As will be easily understood, the various components forming theequipment are mounted on a metal support stand 10 advantageously devisedfor enabling good accessibility during operations for maintenance,cleaning or repairing.

The conveyor 1, made in any suitable manner, may be formed by slides, byone or more rails or by a succession of wheels or by a succession ofrollers or also by a combination of these various means. It is obviousthat in any case, it is chosen in relation to the shape of the cells 2which it carries and guides and in which the Various constitutiveelements of the heat exchanger more particularly a radiator core areheld, Le., tubes, gills or other secondary exchanger elements andcollectors for assembling by soldering.

These cells 2, intended to ensure the llatness, squaring and holding ina definite position, of the various elements of the radiator corewhatever their position during the successive operations, comprise ametal surround 11, of standardized size, whose two opposite edges eachhave turned-back wings 12, brackets for example, extending at rightangles and the inverse of each other (FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

Each cell is provided for holding -a mounting gauge 13 which isremovable, formed by four uprights 13a and 13a, provided-at each endwith parts 13b and 13b1 for longitudinal, lateral and cross centering ofthe radiator core. The parts 13b and 13b1 are shaped to correspond tothe dimensional characteristics of the types of radiator core that it isintended to hold. These uprights also comprise four strips 14 havingprotruding portions 141 which are protruding respectively on both sidesfrom the cell to form sealing partitions as this is describedhereinafter in relation with FIG. 10.

The two uprights 13a1 are pivotally mounted in order to allow the parts13b1 to be pivoted for the position of the radiator core inside themounting gauge 13. To this end, the two strips 14 carried by the upright13a, are respectively formed by two guillotines 14a. The terminal partsof the superimposed guillotines are connected by small uprights 14b alsoprovided for forming pivoting and hooking elements of a rapid operatinglocking and tightening component 15.

This form of embodiment aifords the advantage of being able to positionheat exchanger cores of various types in identical cells byinterchanging the mounting gauges easily dismountable thus reducinghandlings at the loading point 3 comprising several work point.

After their loading, the cells are directed towards the turning device Awhose embodiment is similar to that of the devices B and C.

According to FIG. 5, the device A comprises a hexagonal turnstile 16formed by six prismatic sectors 17 produced by the assembling of metalbars 18 and held by two lateral side plates 19 mounted on a spindle 20.The two ends of this spindle rest in two bearings 21 which support twoframe-members 22 extendingA between the uprights 23 of the stand 10,reinforced in the supporting area by a crossbar 24 on which struts arealso fixed. The six prismatic sectors confine six longitudinal passages26 between them, diametrically opposed to each other and whosedimensions correspond to the size of two cells placed end`to end. Thesides of these sectors, confining each passage, have four slides 27,extended, projecting and extending facing and parallel to each other,according to a separation corresponding to the distance separating thewings of the cells, to form guiding components at the moment when thelatter engage and holding components during the rotation of theturnstile on the spindle 20.

The turning device also comprises a control jack 28, pivotally mountedby a spindle 29 on aV cap 30 integral with a horizontal crossbar 31,fixed, on the one hand,

Vto the stand, and on the other, to an upright extending downwards froma shoulder-bracket 33 onone of the frame-members 22. The piston rod 34of this control jack is connected to a crank 35 pivotally mounted on thespindle 20 and comprising a mobile abutment 36 cooperating with anotched disc 38 integral with the internal face of one of theside-plates 19 and having six notches 39 evenly spaced out provided toact successively as a housing for it. The movable abutment 36 may beactuated by all suitable means generally designed by 37, these meansbeing for instance a jack, an electromagnet or the like.

In addition to the control jack 28, the device comprises a locking jack40 xed on two struts 41 mounted obliquely between an upright of thestand and a sloping joist 42; this joist and this upright'beingconnected at their top part by a separation bar 43 in order to form arigid crutch 44. The locking jack is devised so that a bolt 45 canproject so as to be housed in a cavity 46 which has a heel-piece 47mounted on the flat external face of each prismatic segment of theturnstile.

The turning device A is provided for rotating the cells 2 from position2a to position 2b (FIG. 5) so that'the cells are successively brought inalignment with a corridor 65 provided in a pivoting support 58 placed atthe pickling point 4. When the cells are in position 2b the control jackV2 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is actuated and engages by means of a protrudingmember V6, it carries the cells locatedA in the passage 26 to bringthese cells by sliding from position 2b to position 2c in the corridor65 of the pivoting support 58.

The pickling point 4 is shown in FIG. 6 Where the stand 10 comprises,between the middle frame-member 48 and an upper frame-member 49, twovertical girders 50 between which half way up there is a crossbar 51kformed by assembling two sections 52 held and fixed at theirV ends byreinforcement plates 53. This crossbar supports, on the horizontal wingsof two corner. stiifeners 54, two bearings 55 in which revolves aspindle 56 of which the terminal parts, projecting beyond said bearings,are intended to receive two bushings 57 of a pivoting support 58. Thissupport comprises two vertical side-plates 59 from which one of thebushings 57 projects at each end. The side-plates have respectively theshape of an arm 60 extended by two parallel curved arms 61. These twoarms are made integral ywith each other by a plate 62 fixed in thehorizontal middle part and having on its edge opposite to the spindle20, an

oblique plate 63 welded into the connection area of the arms andbranches and from which extend at rightl angles, two surfaces 64bordering the internal edges of the branches. The surfaces 64 of theplate 63 confine a corridor 65 of the same dimensions as a passage 26 ofthe turnstile.

Like that passage, each corridor comprises four slides 66 extended onthe internal faces of the surfaces and extending parallel and facingeach other.

The pivoting of the mobile support is obtained by a control jack 67hinged on a spindle 68 engaged in a cap 69 supported by a seating 70held in elevation by four feet 71. The piston rod 72 of this jack isconnected to a strap 73 integral with a reinforcement plate 74 fixed onthe lower face of the plate 62.

The pickling point 4 also comprises a locking jack Y 75 mounted on asloping plate 76 supported by a small girder 77 extending from one ofthe uprights of the stand and being fixed to a strut 78 connecting thesame upright to the upper frame-member.

The jack is made so that its actuating causes the ex-k tension of a bolt79 provided to tit into a notch 80 in a heel-piece 81 rigidly attachedto a small plate 82 integral with the oblique plate 63 and placedparallel to the upper surface 64 on which it bears by a small bar 83.

Under the action of this control jack, the pivoting i support 58 canthus be moved in the direction of the arrow F1 for placing in anappreciably vertical position, as shown by mixed lines, inside of a bath84Y containing a flux of given nature. Although not shown, the level ofthis bath is kept constant by one or more automatic pumps connected upto a ilux tank.

After immersion in the ilux bath, the cells, supported by the pivotingsupport, are removed and brought back to the initial sloping position 2cas shown in FIG. 6. This position is chosen to enable the cells to beengaged by a second protruding member V,z (FIG. 7) also carried by thecontrol jack V2 so that two cells 2 are displaced by sliding fromposition 2c (FIG. 6) to position 2e (FIG. 7) simultaneously to thesliding of other cells from position 2b to position 2c as above related.During sliding from-position 2c to position 2e the cells are supportedby the conveyor 1 which has, for a given distance, forming the drainingzone 5, the same slope which is shown in FIG. 7. This slope isadvantageously chosen to obtain a good ow of the ux by gravity and avoidany retaining by the gills or tubes of the nest. To this end, aninclined plane 85 is provided in the stand over its whole length of thedraining zone 5 to direct the flux flowing towards a spout (not shown)intended to channel the flux towards a recuperation bath.

At the end of the draining zone, the cells are engaged in the turningdevice B devised and produced in a similar manner to the device A anddiagrammatized in FIG. 7 by its rotation spindle. This device B rotatesthe cells for placing them in a vertical position so as to enable themto be picked up again by sliding by the conveyor 1 in the section 1athereof (FIGS. 8 and 13).

The cells -are then conveyed facing the blowing point 6 still furthereliminating the excess flux in the radiator core.

As shown in FIG. 8, the uprights 23 of the stand 10 comprises, levelwith the blowing point, two brackets 86 extending internally facing eachother and on whose horizontal face the conveyor section 1a is fixed.This section comprises longitudinal iron sections 87 vprovided withwheels or rollers 88 on which the cells 2 are suspended by the wings 12.This form of embodiment enables the passage of each cell through ablowing jet 89 channelled, on the one hand, by a sheath 90 emerging kasnear as possible to the cell and connected to the This sheath,channelling the blower air charged with droplets of iux, is extended bya recycling circuit 94 comprising a purier intended to cause theseparation of the flux from the air Whose outlet is connected by a duct96 to the suction opening 97 of the casing 92 of the turbine. Aconnection sleeve 9S provided at the bottom part of the puriier and anevacuation piping (not shown) enable the separated flux to be directedtowards the recuperation bath mentioned above.

This means of recycling, purifying and recuperating, also has theadvantage of preventing any giving off of harmful steams inside the workbuildings.

After passing by the blowing point, the cells are conveyed to theentrance to the oven 7 shown by FIG. 9. This figure also shows the oven7 of the same design extending at the top part of the stand, seeing thatthe equipment is placed, as described previously, in a staged circuit.For this reason only the oven 7 will be described, it being understoodthat the same reference numerals correspond on the drawing to theidentical elements that comprises the oven 7.

The oven 7 comprises a hearth 99 extending in the longitudinal directionof the equipment and resting on a platform 100 supported by the uprights23 of the stand. This oven connes a tunnel 101 whose upper wall 102 iscut away for providing a cut 102a, parallel to the conveyor, for thepassage of the cells 2. The end of the tunnel opening level to theblowing point 6 forms a substantially seal-tight entry screen 103provided for preventing any wind or change of temperature between theinterior of the tunnel and the ambient surroundings. This entry screen103 emerges in a chamber 104 hereafter called pre-heating collectorchamber and more particularly shown in FIG. 10.

According to that figure, the chamber 104 contines between the hearth 99and the upper wall, an enclosure 105 appreciably corresponding to halfthe height of a cell 2 suspended on the conveyor and traversed by aheating air current directed in the direction of the arrows f2. Thisenclosure also comprises, upstream from the passage zone of the cells 2,a deector 106 carried by the lower portion of the wall 102 and intendedto deviate this heating air current towards the bottom part of thecells, as is diagrammatized in FIG. 10.

According to that ligure, we see, moreover, that the faces of the upperwall, confining the passage cut, have two middle slides 107 in which twoof the strips 14 described are engaged. This results in a certain mediumseal-tightness enabling a considerable reduction in the balancing oftemperatures between the enclosure 105 and the external part of the ovenand also to keep a relatively constant temperature in the enclosureapplied solely to the lower half of the mountings.

In certain cases, the projecting parts 108 conned by the slides 107 mayadvantageously comprise cooling means.

This pre-heating collector chamber is contiguous to a second chamber109, called the nest pre-heating chamber, formed in a similar manner butnot comprising deectors 106. The whole of the lower half of the mountingis placed in the heating current as shovm in FIG. 10.

A third chamber 110 called soldering chamber is contiguous to thechamber 109 and is made in a similar manner. This soldering chamberissues into a blower and outlet compartment 111 shown in detail in FIG.11 and extended to blow air in the tubes of the radiator cores containedin the successive cells.

At its top part, the compartment 111 comprises a nozzle 112 suppliedwith compressed air and directed vertically in the direction of thetubes of the radiator cores, i.e., along the middle axis of the cells.The cells are provided for the passage of the nozzle 112 with alongitudinal groove 113 provided on those of the edges which comprisethe supporting wings 12. The

6 lower part of the compartment 111 has an opening 114 facing the nozzle112 under which a movable bath 115 is advantageously placed.

It should be noticed that this nozzle is only supplied during theadvancing of the mountings for preventing an exaggerated consumption ofcompressed air.

The oven 7 also comprises another chamber 116 extending from the blowerand outlet compartment and intended to subject the cells to a cooling,preferably directe-d, which is produced, for example, by the intake ofthe ambient air by means of a turbine; this air traversing the cells,and hence, the nests, being then evacuated outside the buildings.

This cooling chamber 116 emerges in an outlet screen 117 provided tofulll the same function as the inlet screen 103 and placed at the otherend of the tunnel 101 forming the oven 7.

After the outlet screen 117, the cells continue their progress on theconveyor 1 towards the third tur-ning device C. The latter places themin a denite position to enable their passage into the upper oven 7 atwhose exit the cells are directed towards the discharge point 8 whichmay comprise, if required, like the loading point 3, several workpoints.

It will be easily understood that the temperature of the variouschambers of the ovens must be able to be regulated independently, so asto determine exactly the thresholds that must be reached in each chamberfor obtaining -a uniform rise or cooling, selected in function of theconstitutive elements of the nests. It is consequently necessary thateach chamber comprises heating or cooling components individuallyenabling a perfect control of the temperatures to be set up. Thesecomponents are especially shown by the diagrammatical sections shown bythe FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

FIG. l2 shows the cells yof the lower and upper parts of the conveyor 1and the cooling device of the chamber 116 of the upper oven 7.

The device comprises a suction jet 118 whose input opening is protectedby a grid 119'. This jet is connected to the casing of a turbine 120discharging the sucked-in air used for cooling the cells traversing it,towards the exterior through a pipe 121.

FIG. 13 shows the blower point 6 placed at right angles to the entranceto the lower oven 7, and the heating components of the soldering chamber110 of the upper oven 7. This chamber is traversed by a chan-nelled hotair jet, upstream from the conveyor 1, through a blower sheath 122connected to a turbine 123, whose inta-ke opening 124 comprises aheating component 125, formed, for example, by a gas burner, anddownstream from the conveyor 1, by a discharge and recycling sheath 126emerging in the intake opening 124 of the turbine 123. 127 and 128denote controlling and regulating pyrometers mounted in the blowersheath upstream from the passage zone of the cells.

FIG. 14 shows the heating means of the pre-heating collector chamber 104of the lower oven 7 and the nest pre-heating chamber 109 of the upperoven 7. These means comprise a turbine 129 whose intake -opening isprovided with a heating component 130` also able to be composed -by agas burner. vThis turbine is connected to a blower sheath 131 traversingthe chamber 104 and is extended by a discharge sheath 132 emerging inthe chamber 109 of the oven 7. A recycling Asheath 133 connects thischamber to the intake opening of the turbine 129. As previously,regulating and controlling pyrometers 134 and 135 are provided upstreamfrom the lower passage zone of the cells.

According to this ligure, we see that the same heating means areprovided both for the lower and upper oven. This arrangement, which canbe ladvantageously carried out owing to the stage circuit equipment, ismade possible seeing that the temperature in the pre-heating collectorchamber must be established, as can be easily understood, at a higherthreshold than that of the nest pre-heating chamber. This lowering ofthe temperature threshold is produced, Von the'one hand, by the passageof hot air into the chamber of the first oven, and on the other, by theexpansion of this air that occurs in the discharge sheath which extendsupstream from the second chamber to be heated, i.e., the nestpre-heating chamber of the upper oven.

For this reason, controlling and regulating pyrometers for lowering thetemperature are also provided upstream from the passage zone of theupper cells.

FIG. shows the heati-ng components of the nest pre-heating chamber 109of the lower oven and the collector pre-heating chamber 104 of the upperoven.

These components are formed, similar to those described in FIG. 14, by aturbine 136 comprising a burner 136a, a blower sheath 13-7 extended by adischarge sheath 138, a recycling sheath 139 and controlling andregulating pyrometers 140 and 141. These components are neverthelessplaced opposite to the preceding components for ensuring firstly theheating of the collector pre-heating chamber of the up-per oven whosethreshold is higher than that of the nest pre-heating chamber of thelower oven.

FIG. 16 shows the passage zones of the lower and upper cells and theheating components of the soldering chamber 110 o-f the oven 7.

This chamber is provided with a turbine 142, whose intake openingcomprises a burner 143, connected to a blower sheath 144 traversing thechamber 110. This sheath 144 is intended beyond the chamber by arecycling sheath 145 emerging in the intake opening of the turbine 142.146 and 147 denote controlling and regulating pyrometers placed upstreamfrom the soldering chamber 110.

FIG. 17 shows the cooling device of the chamber 116 of the lower oven 7.

Like that of the chamber 116', this device comprises a suction jet 148whose inlet opening is protected by a grid 149. This jet is connected tothe casing of a turbine 150 discharging the sucked-in air, having actedfor cooling the cell traversing it, to the outside throu-gh the piping151.

Although not shown, it will easily be understood that when the heatingcomponents are supplied with gas it is necessary to provide a safetydevice for each oven to prevent explosions that might occur, forexample, in the event of wrong handling of the supply burner cocks.

Likewise, the supply 4circuit advantageously has a connection forinstalling a meter or flow meter enabling the consumption of the ovensof the equipment to be ascertained.

The equipment described above comprises transfer components 9 providedfor ensuring the engaging and disengaging of the cells from theturnstiles andV also their movement on the conveyor. This movement canmoreover be provided step by step or continuous in push-push.

These transfer components, six in number, are formed by jacks V1, V2 V6extending horizontally and whose movable parts have projecting membersconstituting stopblocks projecting at right angles and being regularlyspaced apart for a distance slightly greater than the space occupied bytwo cells placed end to end.

Certain jacks, more particularly the jacks V3 and V5 only have a singleprojecting member constituting stopblock yacting on the whole line ofcells when they are moved in push-push as explained in that whichfollows. These jacks are devised for being animated on the one hand,with an axial movement, and on the other, with a limited rotationmovement around the longitudinal axis thus allowing the e'facing of thestop-blocks during the return passage. To this end, the jacks aresupported by bearings provided with rollers for facilitating limitedrotation.

The arrangement of these jacks at each turning point is moreparticularly shown by FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 and expass plained in thegeneral working of the equipment described in that which follows. Afterassembling the tubes, gills or other secondary exchanger elements andcollectors, the nests formed are positioned in corresponding removablemounting gauges. This operation takes place at the loading point wherethe cells and gauges that they contain within reach of the personnelworking on the top part of the conveyor which has, in this zone, atransversal slope corresponding to that of the turnstile passage Aextending in its prolongation.

As can be particularly seen in FIGS. 5 and 18, the transfer Ijack V1,shifts the cells placed on the conveyor and engages the two end cells inthe passage of the turnstile A prolonging said conveyor. After this`axial displacement, the jack is actuated for causing the partialrotation around the longitudinal axis by allowing the eifacing of thestop-blocks and the control of the return passage to the initialposition.

This return gives rise, for example, automatically, on the one hand, tothe actuating of the locking jack 40 of the device A causing the returnof the bolt 45 and the unbolting of the turnstile, and on the other, tothe actuating of the jack 28 controlling, by the crank 35 and mobileabutment 36 held in a notch -of the disc 38, the partial rotation -ofthe turnstile A in the direction of the arrow F3 for bringing it to theposition shown in FIG. 5. Theend of the stroke of the control jackentails the drive of the locking jack 40 ensuring the locking of theturnstile and also enabling the actuating of the control jack -for thereturn stroke and the positioning of the mobile abutment in the nextnotch with a view to another partial rotation.

This rotation, of a value equal to one-sixth of a revolution, has theeffect of bringing, facing the upper part of the conveyor, an emptypassage enabling the engaging of the two following cells. It also hasthe effect of bringing passage occupied by the two first lcells oppositeto the lower part of the conveyor whose transversal slope is so directedas to oppose that of the upper part.

The two cells are then disengaged from the turnstile by a secondtransfer jack V2 directed so that its extension takes place in theopposite direction to the jack V1. The successive axial displacements ofthis jack, similar to those of the jack V1 cause the translation of thecells as far as their engaging in the corridor '83 of the pivotingsupports 58 of the pickling device. The return of theV jack V2 afterthis engaging causes the activating of the locking jack and thewithdrawl of the bolt 79 as well as the control of the jack y67 ensuringthe pivoting of the support 58 in the direction of the arrow F1 (FIG. 6)for immersing the cells in the ux bath 84. This immersion for a giventime is followed by a new control of the jack 67 for the return to anappreciably horizontal position of the support 58 lagain locked by thelocking jack 75.

The same jack V2 then disengages thertwo cells from the pivoting supportfor placing them on the conveyorV whose sloping position facilitatesdraining (FIG. 7).

The translation of lthe cells on the conveyor 1 is then ensured by theextension of the -jack V2.

At the end of the draining zone 5, the two first cells are then engagedby the same jack V2 in a passage of the turnstile B (FIG. 19). Thisturnstile is driven in a similar manner to that of the turnstile A to besubjected to a partial rotation of one-sixth of a revolution in thedirection of the arrow F2. This rotation consequently brings a newpassage opposite to the conveyor of the draining zone and directs thecells already engaged so as to place them in a low vertical position.

Another transfer V3 is then operated for disengaging the `cells from theturnstile =B and place them in a suspended position on rollers or wheelsof the lower part of the conveyor. The translation of the precedingcells is then ensured by touch-touch means of the cells leaving theturnstile B under the action -of the -jack V3. The forward steprepresents two cells. These cells are then directed for passing throughthe blower jet 89 of point 6 for causing the evacuative of the excess uxin the nests (FIG. 8).

On leaving the blowing point the cells penetrate by the entrance chamber103 into the pre-heated collector chamber 104 of the lower oven 7, inwhich Vonly the collectors in the low position are subjected, by a hotair jet, to a rise in temperature. This to allow -for the differentthermic inertias of the collectors, tubes and gills.

The cells then penetrate into the nest pre-heating chamber where all thelower half of the nests contained by the cells are subjected to the heatjet.

The regular rise in temperature of the assembly is achieved in thesoldering chamber in which the hot air jet brings the various elementsup to the threshold for which the fusible material, applied, forexample, by atomization before assembling the elements, melts and joinsthe tubes, gills and lower collector together,

It has been noticed that it was advantageous that the height of thechambers, more particularly the nest preheating and soldering chamber,should be slightly greater than half the height of the nests forobtaining the covering Iof the middle part and a certitude of solderingthe gills extending in that Zone.

After the soldering chamber, the cells pass in front of the compartment111 intended to cause, by blowing, the eventual unstopping of the tubesand the elimination of the run-outs that may occur.

The cells then penetrate into the chamber 116 where they are subjectedto a cooling directed, by the intake of the outside air by means of aturbine, to bring the assembly to a slight temperature enabling thefollowing operations to be performed without risks.

After the output chamber 117 of the lower oven 7, the cells are engagedby another transfer jack V4 (FIG. in a lower vertical passage of theturnstile C. As in the previous case, the return stroke of this jackcontrols the unlocking and rotation of the turnstile in the l directionof the arrow F3. This rotation is also provided to the extent ofone-sixth of a revolution so as to return the cells in three stages forbringing the collectors of the upper halves of the nests to the placepreviously occupied by the collectors of the lower halves, the tubesbeing again Vertical.

In this position, the cells are disengaged from the turnstile C byanother transfer jack V5 which directs them towards the upper part ofthe conveyor also formed by wheels or rollers (FIG. 20).

In like manner, the displacement of the cells takes pl-ace on the upperpart of the conveyor, step by step, by the successive extensions of thejack V5.

This upper part of the conveyor brings the cells in front of theentrance chamber 103' of the oven 7 inside of which the lower half ofthe nests is soldered in a similar manner to that described above.

On leaving the oven 7', the cells are engaged by another transfer jackV6 in an upper vertical passage of the turnstile B. During the partialrotation of the latter, previously described, the cells are brought to asloping position similar to the loading position for disengaging fromthe turnstile by the other end of the jack V1 (FIG. 19). These cells arethen placed on the upper sloping part of the conveyor for directingtowards the loading point 8 where the nests are extracted from themounting gauges, then brought by the following extension opposite to theloading point where the mounting gauges can receive other nestsrequiring to be assembled.

The invention is not restricted to the example of embodiment, shown anddescribed in detail, for various modifications may be applied to itwithout going outside of its scope. In particular, the loading point canbe supplied by several distinct chains bringing the gauges equipped withnests of various types to the various work points. Likewise, provisionmay be made for placing an automatic distributing device for the variousnests controlled by a 10 feeler determining the type of radiator infunction of the removable gauge for each cell.

I claim:

1. Equipment for soldering heat exchanger, more particularly coolingradiator cores, comprising a set of cells for surrounding and supportingsaid radiator cores, protruding members protruding laterally from saidcells at both ends thereof to constitute supporting members therefor, afirst supporting way having guiding members for said supporting membersof said cells extending lengthwise and onto which said cells arepositioned, a first rotating device having several passages for saidcells rotatably mounted at one end of said first supporting way, slidingactuator means disposed parallel to said first supporting way to slidesaid cells from said first supporting way to one of said passages ofsaid first rotating device, an oscillatorily mounted pivoting supportdisposed parallel to said first rotating device, said pivoting supporthaving a sloped corridor arranged to be in alignment with one of saidpassages of said first rotating device when stopped, a tank filled witha fiux located beneath said pivoting support and into which saidpivoting support is bathed when actuated, a second supporting way havingguiding members for said supporting members of said cells, said secondsupporting way being sloped to be aligned with said corridor of saidpivoting support when stopped, a driving member provided to rotate saidrotating device to bring 'cells in alignment with said corridor of saidpivoting support when said support is at rest and driving means to slidesaid cells from said rotatable device to said corridor of said pivotingsupport when said support is at rest and then from said pivoting supportto said second supporting way after actuation of said pivoting supportwhereby said cells are successively bathed into said flux and thensupported in inclined position by said pivoting support and Islopedsecond supporting way thus causing draining thereof, a second rotatingdevice having passage for said cells and located in close relationshipwith said second supporting way from which said cells are inserted intoone of said passages of said second rotating device by said drivingmeans, driving members for said second rotating device for the actuationof said device to rotate said cells from the inclined position to avertical position, a third supporting way having guiding members forsaid cells provided to support said cells in vertical position, saidthird supporting way being located adjacent said second rotating device,means to slide said cells from said second rotating device to said thirdsupporting way and then along -said third supporting way, firstsoldering assembly means associated with said third supporting waywhereby a portion of said radiator cores supported by said cells aresoldered, second soldering assembly means for soldering the portion ofsaid radiator cores not soldered by said first soldering assembly means,and means for feeding said radiator cores from said first solderingassembly means to s-aid second soldering assembly means.

2. Equipment for soldering heat exchanger, more particularly coolingradiator cores comprising a set of cells for surrounding and supportingsaid radiator cores, protruding members protruding laterally from saidcells at both ends thereof to constitute supporting members therefor,two sets of two strips carried by said cells and projecting laterallytherefrom to form heat partitions, a first supporting way have guidingmembers for said supporting members of said cells extending lengthwiseand onto Which said cells are positioned, a first rotating device havingseveral passages or notches for said cells rotatably mounted at one -endof said first supporting way, sliding actuator means disposed parallelto said first supporting Way to slide said cells from said firstsupporting way to one of said passa-ges or notches of said firstrotating device, an oscillatory mounted pivoting support disposed,parallel to said first rotating device, said pivoting support 'having asloped corridor arranged to :be in alignment with one of said passagesof said first rotating device when 1 1 stopped, a tank filled with aflux located beneath said pivoting support and into which said pivotingsupport is bathed when actuated, a second supporting way having guidingmembers for said supporting members of said cells, said second.supporting way being sloped to be aligned with said corridor of saidpivoting support when said pivoting support is stopped, a driving memberprovided to rotate said rotating device to bring cells in alignment withsaid corridor of said pivoting support when said pivoting support is atrest and driving means to slide said cells from said rotatable device tosaid corridor of said pivoting support when said pivoting support is atrest and then from said pivoting support to said second supporting wayafter actuation of said pivoting support whereby said cells aresuccessively bathed int-o said fiux and then supi ported in inclinedposition by said pivoting support and sloped second supporting way thuscausing draining thereof, a second rotating device having passages ornotches for said cells and located in close relationship with saidsecond supporting way from which said cells are inserted into one ofsaid passages of said second rotating device by said ydriving means,driving members for said second rotating device for the actuation ofsaid device to rotate said cells from the inclined position to avertical position, a third supporting way having guiding members forsaid cells provided to support said cells in vertical position, saidthird supporting way being located adjacent said second rotating device,means to slide said cel-ls from said second rotating device to saidthird supporting way and then along said third supporting way, =ablowing unit associated with said third supporting way at the beginningthereof whereby air is blown transversally through said cells, a firstsoldering oven disposed beneath said third supporting way paralleltherewith and in alignment with said blowing unit, said first solderingoven having a thick upper wall delimiting a longitudinal passage forsaid cells, said thick upper wall having the lower face thereof`extending substantially to the middle portion of said cel-ls wherebyonly one half of said cells projects into said oven, said thick upperwall further comprising grooves for accommodating one set of said stripsprojecting laterally from said cells whereby said strips -constitutemovable partitions into said oven to prevent escaping of heat therefrom,a third rotating device having passages for said cells rotatably mountedat the end of said third supporting way, driving units respectivelyprovided to slide said cells from said third supporting way to saidthird rotating device and to rotate said third rotating device 180, afourth supporting way having guiding members for said cells extendingfrom said third rotating device to said second rotating device, a secondsoldering oven having a structure similar to that of said firstsoldering oven disposed parallel therewith beneath said fourthsupporting way, driving members to slide said cells from said thirdrotating device to said fourth supporting way and inside said secondsoldering oven whereby soldering the other half of said radiator corescontained in said cells is achieved, sliding driving components to slidesaid cel-ls from said fourth supporting way to said second rotatingdevice whereby rotation of said device causes said cells to be slopedand thus brought into alignment with said first supporting way, andmembers sliding said cells from said second rotating device to saidfirst supporting way where the cells 'are removed.

3. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set forth in claim 2 inwhich further said first and second ovens include successively an entrychamber forming a screen, a first preheating chamber and a secondpreheating chamber, a soldering chamber for heating said radiator coreat a soldering temperature, a cooling chamber into which air is blown tocool the radiator cores and an outlet charnber formingra screen.

4. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set forth in claim 3comprising further `a blowing nozzle arranged between said solderingchamber and said cooling chamber to blow compressed air into tubes ofsaid radiator cores before cooling of said radiator cores.

5. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set forth in claim 2 inwhich said means to slide said cells from said second rotating device tosaid third supporting way and then along said third supporting way, andsaid driving members to slide said cells from said third rotating deviceto said fourth supporting way yand inside said second soldering oveninclude pushing members engaging said cells at the rear portion thereofwhereby said cells are caused to be in a push-push relationship whenpassing through said first and second soldering ovens with Vsaid sets ofstrips projecting laterally from said cells delimiting a continuouspartition inside said grooves provided in the upper thick .wall of saidovens.

6. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set-forth in claim 3 inwhich further said first preheating chamber of the first oven isconnected to said second preheating chamber of the second oven and saidfirst preheating chamber of said second oven is connected to said secondpreheating chamber of said first oven, and in which the equipmentcomprises a heating member for each one of said first preheatingchambers and blowing component to blow from said first to said secondpreheating chambers.

7. Equipment as set forth in claim 1 comprising mounting gauges havingcentering grip members to support a predetermined type of heatexchangers to be soldered, said mounting gauges having furtherconnecting elements for removable `connection with said cells wherebyany type of heat exchanger may be mounted inside said cells.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,139,679 7/1964Saj 29-l57.3 X

JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examinez.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Examiner.

M. L. FAIGUS, Assistant Examiner.

1. EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER, MORE PARTICULARLY COOLINGRADIATOR CORES, COMPRISING A SET OF CELLS FOR SURROUNDING AND SUPPORTINGSAID RADIATOR CORES, PROTRUDING MEMBERS PROTRUDING LATERALLY FROM SAIDCELLS AT BOTH ENDS THEREOF TO CONSTITUTE SUPPORTING MEMBERS THEREFOR, AFIRST SUPPORTING WAY HAVING GUIDING MEMBERS FOR SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERSOF SAID CELLS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE AND ONTO WHICH SAID CELLS AREPOSITIONED, A FIRST ROTATING DEVICE HAVING SEVERAL PASSAGES FOR SAIDCELLS ROTATABLY MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID FIRST SUPPORTING WAY, SLIDINGACTUATOR MEANS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST SUPPORTING WAY TO SLIDESAID CELLS FROM SAID FIRST SUPPORTING WAY TO ONE OF SAID PASSAGES OFSAID FIRST ROTATING DEVICE, AN OSCILLATORILY MOUNTED PIVOTING SUPPORTDISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST ROTATING DEVICE, SAID PIVOTING SUPPORTHAVING A SLOPED CORRIDOR ARRANGED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAIDPASSAGES OF SAID FIRST ROTATING DEVICE WHEN STOPPED, A TANK FILLED WITHA FLUX LOCATED BENEATH SAID PIVOTING SUPPORT AND INTO WHICH SAIDPIVOTING SUPPORT IS BATHED WHEN ACTUATED, A SECOND SUPPORTING WAY HAVINGGUIDING MEMBERS FOR SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF SAID CELLS, SAID SECONDSUPPORTING WAY BEING SLOPED TO BE ALIGNED WITH SAID CORRIDOR OF SAIDPIVOTING SUPPORT WHEN STOPPED, A DRIVING MEMBER PROVIDED TO ROTATE SAIDROTATING DEVICE TO BRING CELLS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CORRIDOR OF SAIDPIVOTING SUPPORT WHEN SAID SUPPORT IS AT REST AND DRIVING MEANS TO SLIDESAID CELLS FROM SAID ROTATABLE DEVICE TO SAID CORRIDOR OF SAID PIVOTINGSUPPORT WHEN SAID SUPPORT IS AT REST AND